De Gea: "Casillas is an idol. It's a pity he can't play"

David De Gea expressed his disappointment at Iker Casillas missing out on the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Finland and France through injury, and assured that the side's captain was "an idol for everyone". "It's a shame that he can't be here. He's the captain, an idol for everyone, but I'm still happy to be here even if it is because he's missed out through injury", he said upon joining up with the rest of the 'La Roja' players at the 'Ciudad del Futbol' training complex.

De Gea conveyed his happiness at having made the jump up to the full squad. He's been a regular in the national youth teams and Vicente del Bosque had already considered him as almost ready for the full squad for the recent European Championships. "I'm happy, very pleased to have got the call. I'm going to try to do the best I can and impress the gaffer", said the keeper from Madrid. I have been very settled in the under-21 side, which is also facing a great challenge soon, but this is a special moment for me. I hope I can really enjoy it and learn from these top players who are idols for many people, myself included", he said.

Although De Gea still feels he's the under-21 keeper and he's thinking about the next U-21 European Championship in Israel rather than the Confederations Cup with the full squad, he admitted that he's "taking a giant leap" and that he'll try to "be back again in the future". "I was in Austria prior to the European Championships and now I'm back on track. I'm going to try and do well so I can join the full squad again", he added.